Travel | Florence, Italy: The Wild Tuscan Drive That Kicked Off Our Next 20 Years

Text me! Tell me something good!

He thought my “weather problem” meant a helicopter tour. I told him to put his shoes on anyway, and off we went into a rainy Florence evening—no clue a bright red Ferrari was waiting across the Arno.

Michael joins me at the table to relive our Florence, Italy stop—part of our Italy trip. We chat about the hotel that felt wildly fancy for the price, the river rushing from epic rain, and the scramble it took to pull off his 20th anniversary gift. I share the story behind booking a Tuscany Ferrari driving experience the hard way, why WhatsApp saved the day, and how we got a route through the Tuscan countryside—no boring track circles here!

Then, we dive into the good stuff: meeting Stefano (yes, a former Ferrari racer), learning the car’s personality, and hearing that engine echo through tunnels with Stefano counting us in: “one, two, three, go.” We swap a Chianti Classico tip (look for the rooster!), talk aperitivo and orange wine, and share those simple Florence moments—from a wine window near the Duomo to Mercato Centrale to that legendary Florentine steak.

If you’re up for a ride through Florence and Tuscany—Ferrari engines and all—hit play! And hey, if it made you smile or dream, share it with a friend who loves a great adventure!

Hosts: Amy Kathleen Smith | Insta @astoriedtable | www.astoriedtable.com

Edited by: Ben Hill* | http://benhillsound.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhillsound/

*starting with episode 60